Genital Herpes Treatment

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a virus. It causes blisters and sores, which can be very painful. In many cases, the virus which causes genital herpes doesn’t cause any symptoms and it is common for people to carry the virus and not be aware of it. They can then spread it to other people during sex.

Genital herpes is caused by a common virus which is easily transmitted during sex. One in ten people in the UK carry the genital herpes virus and many of them don’t know that they have it.

People have very different reactions to the herpes simplex virus. Some people might never show any symptoms or have an outbreak, others will have recurrent attacks. Most people don’t see any symptoms when they are infected, so they might not know they have the virus until months, or even years, after they first came into contact with it.

When you experience genital herpes for the first time you may notice:

• small blisters that eventually burst, causing red, open sores around your genitals, rectum (back passage), thighs and buttocks
• blisters and ulcers on the cervix (lower part of the womb) in women
• vaginal discharge in women
• pain during urination
• a general feeling of being unwell, with aches, pains and flu-like symptoms.

These symptoms may last up to 20 days. However, the sores will eventually scab and heal without scarring.

Although the initial genital herpes symptoms clear up, the virus remains in your body. From time to time, it may cause recurrent outbreaks.

Symptoms of a recurrent outbreak may include:

• a tingling, burning or itching sensation around your genitals, and sometimes down your leg before blisters appear
• painful red blisters that soon burst to leave sores around your genitals, rectum (back passage), thighs and buttocks
• blisters and ulcers on the cervix (lower part of the womb) in women
• Starting genital herpes treatment as soon as you notice the first symptoms can help you avoid severe symptoms and speeds up recovery.

If you have any of the symptoms, you should go to a GP or visit your local sexual health clinic. They’ll ask you a few questions about your sexual history, and then swab some of the liquid from one of your blisters or sores for testing.

Genital herpes is usually treated with:

• Aciclovir (also known as Zovirax)
• Valaciclovir

Both are antiviral medications which help your immune system fight the virus either to treat a sudden outbreak or to prevent recurring episodes.

You can pass on the herpes simplex virus to other people, even if sores are no longer visible. You can prevent it by using barrier contraceptives such as condoms, although they’re not 100% effective at preventing it.

If you have sores or blisters, you should not have sex at all until they have cleared up completely, to avoid passing the virus on.

About Aciclovir

Aciclovir antiviral tablets are used to treat viral infections like genital herpes. Aciclovir works to suppress ongoing outbreaks of both herpes simplex type 1 and type 2. It can be used to treat the first outbreak as well as recurrent flare-ups. It is sometimes sold under the name Zovirax.

You would ordinarily have to take this genital herpes treatment between three and five times a day, but the doctor will advise how best to take it.

About Valaciclovir

Valaciclovir can also be used to treat genital herpes. Once you have taken Valaciclovir, the body breaks it down into the active ingredient Aciclovir.

Valaciclovir differs from the Aciclovir tablets in that it costs more, but has fewer side effects. There are also normally only two tablets to take per day (unless the treatment is preventative, in which case there is only one tablet to take each day). It works by stopping the herpes virus reproducing or growing which gives your body’s immune system time to respond and to get the infection under control.

The sooner you start taking Valaciclovir after the herpes symptoms start, the better it will work.

To order from Superdrug Online Doctor, fill in our brief assessment questionnaire and select your preferred treatment. You won’t need to see a doctor face to face but you may need to upload a picture of your condition if you have not previously been diagnosed with genital herpes so one of our online doctors can confirm your diagnosis.

If suitable, our doctor will issue a prescription for aciclovir or valaciclovir.

Unfortunately, there is still no cure for genital herpes, but antiviral medications are getting more effective with time and help to make it more manageable. People who have a healthy immune system seem to see fewer outbreaks of the herpes virus, but in general, people normally find that the symptoms get milder as outbreaks go on.

For most people, the first outbreak is the worst. Recurrent outbreaks are normally shorter and less painful because your body knows how to fight the infection. People also seem to have fewer outbreaks as they get older. Most patients learn to spot symptoms of a recurrent outbreak early on, which allows them to take a genital herpes treatment to stop the outbreak from getting worse.

There are suppression treatments that consist of using the medications we prescribe. You can also order a prescription for suppression treatment with us.

Common side effects of genital herpes treatments include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Muscle or Joint aches
• Fluid retention
• Hair loss

If you are experiencing any potential side effect of your current treatment for genital herpes, get in touch with us, or with your GP, so that your course of treatment or suppression may be reviewed and changed as appropriate.